Jacoby Ellsbury

While the Dodgers aren’t overtly shopping Matt Kemp, teams are aware of their outfield situation in which they have four capable players for three positions. As a result, the Dodgers have been taking some phone calls from teams interest in Kemp. The Red Sox are the latest to inquire, according to Nick Cafardo of the…

I wanna play poker with Jon Daniels. MLB.com’s Richard Justice talking about Rangers GM Jon Daniels in the Dallas Morning News: “I think Nolan Ryan leaving really put the pressure on Jon Daniels to make a dramatic move. He’s the only GM that I heard last week at the meeting saying, ‘Our needs can’t be…

Mets GM Sandy Alderson recently said he won’t target players expected to take home a nine-figure contract, like Jacoby Ellsbury or Shin-Soo Choo, but he did state that the 2014 season will be “a new day” for the franchise. Newsday’s Marc Carig writes that Alderson spent 45 minutes on the radio, between WFAN and ESPN…

ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick has the Mariners aiming for a couple of outfielders, but not the center fielder they’ve long been connected to. #Mariners are ambitious: Heard they’d like to find a way to add both Nelson Cruz and Carlos Beltran. Hey, they’re trying. — Jerry Crasnick (@jcrasnick) November 12, 2013 If what I’ve heard here…

The Mets have some money to spend this offseason with the contracts of Johan Santana, Jason Bay, and Frank Francisco coming off the books, but don’t expect them to go after any of the big ticket items in free agency. Alderson pledges aggressive approach this winter but unwilling to go over $100 million for a…

The Nationals acquired Denard Span from the Twins last offseason to serve as their leadoff man and regular center fielder, but they are already considering making a change. According to CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman, the Nationals are willing to listen to trade offers for Span. The possible motivation could be the team’s interest in free…

In a report which should come as no surprise, Andy Martino of the New York Daily News passes along word that the Mets have shown “preliminary interest” in free agent outfielder Curtis Granderson. It would be more noteworthy if the Mets weren’t putting out some early feelers, as they are known to be on the…

Carlos Beltran has a qualifying offer on the table from the Cardinals, but he’s expected to decline the one-year, $14.1 million deal even if he wants to remain in St. Louis and now George King of the New York Post reports that the Red Sox are showing “strong interest” in the 36-year-old outfielder. According to…

Here’s the wrap on how Monday’s qualifying offer deadline went down. First, here’s a quick guide to the qualifying offers game: Teams are allowed to make $14.1 million qualifying offers to free agents they’ve employed for at least a year and thus secure a draft pick if they depart. That pick will come immediately following the…

The Tigers have made a habit of big splashes in the offseasons. Three years ago, it was Victor Martinez. Then Prince Fielder. Last winter, the Tigers signed both Anibal Sanchez and Torii Hunter. Those deals have helped them reach the postseason each year, but the ultimate prize has remained out of reach. As the Tigers…

With Jacoby Ellsbury, Mike Napoli, Stephen Drew and Jarrod Saltalamacchia all filing for free agency, the world champion Red Sox would seem to have a whole lot of flexibility this winter. Even without signing any replacements, they have a perfectly legitimate 25-man roster ready to go: SS: Xander Bogaerts: $500,000 RF: Shane Victorino: $13 million…

This year’s annual free agents column has expanded to a top 150, though I’m writing up just the top 55 (it was going to be 50, but I couldn’t help myself). The rest are presented in a list. Not included are players whose contract options are sure to be exercised. Players are ranked based not…

These Boston Red Sox are a new kind of dynasty. I suppose there’s a question if they really ARE a dynasty, if that word “Dynasty” even means anything in today’s game, with 30 teams and the game’s structure pushing toward parity. But Boston did win its third World Series in a 10-year-span. Only eight teams…

As the Red Sox celebrate their third World Series victory in a decade Wednesday, the likelihood exists that several key players won’t be back in 2014. Red Sox free agents this winter include Jacoby Ellsbury, Mike Napoli, Stephen Drew and Jarrod Saltalamacchia. Ellsbury and Drew in particular delivered big games on Wednesday, with Ellsbury reaching…

It wasn’t exactly a shocker, but after batting .688 with two homers, David Ortiz was named World Series MVP following Boston’s Game 6 victory over the Cardinals. Ortiz tied World Series and postseason records with four walks and three intentional walks in the Game 6 victory. He came around to score after two of them.…

BOSTON — In between the third and fourth inning of Game 6, the Boston Police Department issued a statement that the Bars around Fenway Park were at full capacity so, please, don’t bother coming down here. Based on what I saw in and around Fenway Park this evening, I am 100% certain that no one heeded…

Boston is on top in Game 6 of the World Series. Cardinals rookie sensation Michael Wacha was sharp through the first two innings, but Jacoby Ellsbury opened the bottom of the third with a single to right field, David Ortiz was issued an intentional walk and Jonny Gomes took a pitch off his left shoulder…

It started with the lineup: Mike Matheny chose to go with Shane Robinson in center field in Game 5 and had him bat second, with Carlos Beltran dropping into the cleanup spot. On the surface, it didn’t seem like a great move. Maybe it would have turned out better had leadoff man Matt Carpenter gotten…

ST. LOUIS — We thought of Game 1 as a battle of aces. It didn’t turn out that way. Game 5, however, gave us what we had been expecting. Adam Wainwright vs. Jon Lester and this time they were both on their game. But Jon Lester was better than Wainwright and, just as importantly, was…

Adam Wainwright and Jon Lester have been dealing for most of the night, but the Red Sox have retaken the lead in Game 5. Wainwright struck out Daniel Nava to begin the top of the seventh inning, but then allowed a single to Xander Bogaerts and a walk to Stephen Drew. This set up a…

The Red Sox are off to a quick start against the Cardinals in Game 5 of the World Series thanks to the red-hot David Ortiz. After Adam Wainwright struck out Jacoby Ellsbury looking to begin the game, Dustin Pedroia ripped a hanging curveball into the left field corner for a double. Ortiz then pulled a…

Going into his sixth-inning at-bat against Cardinals reliever Seth Maness, Red Sox outfielder Jonny Gomes was 0-for-10. He had reached base just once on a walk in the fifth inning. Fans complained that he had started Games 1 and 2 in lieu of Daniel Nava. He wasn’t even supposed to start Game 4, but Shane…